Dede Wilsey spreads the campaign cash around

1of 2Dede Wilsey, President of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and Belva Davis (left) before 10th anniversary gala at de Young Museum in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, October 14, 2015.Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

2of 2Philanthropist Dede Wilsey has directed $417,000 to the campaigns of S.F.-based Democrats this year.Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

Multimillionaire philanthropist and San Francisco culture queen Dede Wilsey can add a new crown to her collection: Princess of Politics.

According to campaign reports, Wilsey has contributed $291,000 to local candidates, political action committees and ballot measures in 2016. Most of the candidates and measures are backed by Mayor Ed Lee and his allies in business and labor.

Such generosity is nothing new — Wilsey has been spreading the cash around since Willie Brown was mayor. In recent years, progressives such as Public Defender Jeff Adachi, former state Sen. Carol Migden and former state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano have received donations from Wilsey, as have Board of Supervisors President London Breed and City Attorney Dennis Herrera.

The big money from Wilsey, however, usually goes to moderates such as Lee and Lt. Gov. GavinNewsom. For example, she has dropped $110,000 into the campaign for Proposition 63, Newsom’s statewide ammunition control initiative.

This year — counting what she has given to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Senate candidate Kamala Harris — Wilsey has directed a total of $417,000 to San Francisco-based Democrats.

Not bad for a registered Republican.

Most recently, Wilsey donated $100,000 to fight measures aimed at reducing the power of the mayor — after she had a private sit-down with Lee.

“There is no question that political donations were key on her being able to hang onto her seat,” said progressive activist Jon Golinger, who is running the campaign to create a public advocate job in San Francisco — one of the measures Wilsey is trying to defeat.

“She is sending the message that she is still in power,” Golinger said.

Wilsey declined to comment on her political prowess, but her spokesman Nathan Ballard said, “Mrs. Wilsey’s opponents should be careful about underestimating her. She has long and deep relationships in politics at all points of the spectrum, and she is a force to be reckoned with.”

No doubt.

Rolling in her grave: Just days before she died, Chinatown power broker Rose Pak slipped us a copy of the resume of the man she was pushing for chief of police: her longtime protege, Deputy Chief Garret Tom.

Tom was among a dozen or so applicants interviewed by the Police Commission for the chief’s job — but he’s now out of the running.

“No regrets,” Tom told us when we called to confirm the news. “It’s been a great 35 years and a great career, and I’m seriously thinking of retiring.”

As for who’s still a contender?

Acting S.F. Police Chief Toney Chaplin reportedly is still in the running for the permanent job.

Photo: Josh Edelson, JOSH EDELSON / SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Word is that acting Police Chief Toney Chaplin is one of the finalists from inside the department, with three outsiders still in the mix.

And with a new U.S. Justice Department report calling for the Police Department to make 272 reforms in the aftermath of several fatal shootings that have inflamed minority communities, the betting around the Hall of Justice is that the next chief is almost sure to be African American.

However, with so much at stake on the November ballot, speculation is that Mayor Ed Lee won’t make the appointment until after the election to limit any potential political fallout.

Clinton calling: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton had a good reason to stop by her San Francisco campaign headquarters on her way to a fundraising rally at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium the other day.

In addition to handing out signs, her HQ in the former KRON studios houses a call operation that has dialed up 600,000 voters in California and swing states since she landed the nomination.

“You can’t pay people for the kind of commitment we are getting out of the volunteers here,” said campaign volunteer Christine Pelosi, daughter of Nancy.

And saying “thanks” goes a long way toward ensuring they’ll keep it up until election day.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross

Whether writing about politics or personalities, Phil Matier and Andy Ross have informed and entertained readers for more than two decades about the always fascinating Bay Area and beyond. Their blend of scoops, insights and investigative reporting can be found every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday in the San Francisco Chronicle.